Exeter Village Board Meeting Notice

Fillmore County Has First Confirmed COVID 19 Case

Exeter-Milligan School Board Meets Discusses Summer Projects

Exeter-Milligan held their school board meeting using the zoom app on Wednesday, April 8, 2020.

Once all six board members joined Superintendent Paul Sheffield the meeting began.  Sheffield noted that 34 guests were logged in to the zoom.

The board approved the consensus report. Chairman Adam Erdkamp asked Sheffield and Principal Laura Kroll to give an update on the new delivery of curriculum.

“We are using zoom. . . It’s not the best way to do education but it’s the best thing we can do now.  Thank you to school board for the technology we have been given throughout the years.  It’s given us a leg up.”

Kroll concurred with Sheffield and added, “We were able to start right away (with distance learning). Some schools I know of have not started delivering any instruction, schools our size because they don’t have the technology.  I don’t think the transition has been difficult for our teachers as far as the technology part of it, it was just a huge transition not having their kids in front of them.”

“I think we are ahead of the game,” Erdkamp responded, “I think our staff should be thanked for that because we are ahead of that.”

Sheffield reported that they have started serving meals.  They are also delivering and have had 43 getting lunches and 32 getting breakfast.  He noted that student meals are available by calling the school or going to the website for the form to fill out.

Next on the agenda was old business which started with a lengthy discussion of potential coop of athletics and consolidation.

The board moved on to a discussion on summer building and grounds projects.  While the board accepted the quotes on redoing the bathrooms in the Exeter elementary and the Milligan school, electrical panel repairs and sidewalk updates, the board opted not to approve an option to build a multi car garage in the lot north of the Exeter school.

The board approved two resolutions which would give Sheffield the power to make spending decisions during the Covid 19 pandemic and received the resignation of first grade teacher Sara Pella.

The board asked Sheffield to expound on activities and graduation plans.  He noted there is a possibility prom could be held in the summer but looks to hold graduation on May 9 pending approval from Public Health Solutions.

With just nine seniors he proposed to hold the ceremony at the Milligan football field with the normal speeches and recognitions.  Audience members could drive up to the field and watch from their vehicles.  If the plan is approved by the health department then Sheffield will contact the seniors and their parents for their input.

The next meeting was set for May 13 in Exeter.

Exeter Cruise Night Part 2

Exeter residents have been cruising every Saturday night to get out and about during the COVID 19 Pandemic.  Here are some photos from the second week

Exeter Milligan School Board Postpones Sports Coop With Friend

The Exeter-Milligan school board held a lengthy discussion on the plan to coop sports with Friend for this fall at their regularly scheduled monthly board meeting that was held by Zoom on April 8.

School board Chairman Adam Erdkamp explained that the Exeter-Milligan area committee met with both the respective Friend and Fillmore Central. Erdkamp read the notes from both meetings and noted they would be posted on the districts website.

At the Friend meeting on March 15^th each committee gave an overview of their regular meeting and shared some of the public comments that were received at those meetings.  Erdkamp noted that “overall the comments and questions were similar.”

The Exeter-Milligan contingent shared with Friend that they would be having a similar conversation with Fillmore Central.  “We wanted to consider all of the options available for our kids.  It’s important to know what Fillmore Central could bring to the table.”

The Friend and Exeter-Milligan committees hashed out a preliminary look at what consolidation would look like:

-Preschool in Friend and in Exeter

-K-5 school in Exeter

-Jr High and High school in Friend

-Staff would be reduced by offering early buyouts or attrition.

-Exeter-Milligan transportation would be favorable to doing all of the transportation.

-Milligan site would not be used but an inter-local agreement would be made with the village.  The district would pay for updates but the village would run the facility.

Sports would be split between all three locations.  All football would be played in Milligan with practices in Exeter and Friend.  All volleyball would be in Exeter with high school practice in Exeter and junior high in Friend.  The softball program would continue to coop with Fillmore Central. 

Basketball games would be held in Friend with high school practices in Friend and junior high practices in Exeter and Friend.  Wrestling would all be in Friend along with high school track.  Junior high track would be determined by coaches and administration.

Erdkamp also noted that both committees concurred that their activity handbooks would have to be altered and the booster clubs at both schools would have to coop as well.

The next step in the process, according to Erdkamp, was to return to the respective boards and report their conversation.  At that point if the sports coop was to proceed for this fall a special meeting would have to be held by the end of April so boards could vote and meet the looming conference deadline.

Erdkamp asked the board members who were not a part of the area committee if they had any questions.  Tim Pribyl asked the administrators if it was common to move the sixth grade in with the junior high.  Kroll responded that it could go either way but, “in general sixth grade curriculum flows well with seventh and eighth.”

Erdkamp then read the notes of the meeting with Fillmore Central which was held on March 23 in Exeter with just the committee members.

Fillmore Central representatives shared that they would be willing to have a K-4 site in Exeter but could not guarantee it for more than four or five years.  There would not be any other school site or sports played at either site of the current Exeter-Milligan district. There would be no change in identity for Fillmore Central.  They were also certain that they would not be able to retain all of the current staff.

Another key point of the meeting revealed that Fillmore Central could not guarantee budget funds to maintain either Exeter or Milligan sites if they were not used.

Exeter-Milligan committee members felt like there were a few positives in a potential merger.  They felt that “our students would gain increased academic and athletic and extracurricular opportunities and access to programs we aren’t able to provide our students.”

Board member Eric Milton added, “We had good discussion about where they are and the size of district they are.  They perceive a lot of liability when taking the kids out of their Geneva or Fairmont facility. They were candid with us.”

Erdkamp then read emails he had received from six community members all of which urged the board to slow down the process and not vote on any issues until the current covid 19 pandemic is over and gathering restrictions are removed.

Several of the board members commented positively on the email from sophomore class member Wesley Ronne who encouraged the board to “Send out a google form to all of the students.  I feel it would be a systemized way to give feedback and would be constructive.”

Several board members were surprised that community members expected the board to vote on the sports coop during the meeting.  

Board member Dan Kalhoff voiced his thoughts, “I was surprised that all of the emails thought that this would be a vote tonight.  I don’t think we even know what is going to happen this fall yet.  To think that we are going to get this done before the fall season starts – I think we are a little ahead of ourselves.”

Erdkamp added, “I agree with you Dan. These meetings were a little more than a month ago. I don’t think anyone has the intention to shove something through.  If we were going to try to do a sports cooperative there was a time line that had to be met.  Because of things that are going on I don’t think that is going to happen."

Kroll responded to the request from Ronne to survey the students.  “We do plan to survey the kids.  We were waiting to see what happened with this school board meeting.”

Erdkamp encouraged the administration to “get the pulse of the student population.”

Next Erdkamp read letters from most of the Exeter-Milligan coaches who all supported the coop of athletics with Friend for a variety of reasons with most citing the benefit of additional players at practices which could lead to greater success on the playing field.

“We may have to put on the brakes for a vote for a couple of reasons.  We weren’t planning to vote tonight, we would have had additional public meetings but this (the Covid 19) pushes the whole timetable back,” added Erdkamp.

Sheffield made it very clear that the timeline “has been my timeline, not the boards timeline.  This has been a very abnormal time with the Covid 19 transpiring.  Just wanted to go on record that this has been my timeline.”

Kroll clarified that at the coaches meeting, “there was no discussion of wins and losses. The biggest conversation was about having some JV games and competition.” 

When the board began discussing their next step in the process of a sports coop with Friend, Kalhoff spoke up summing up the consensus of the board, “I think we are trying to get it done too quick for it to happen this year. . . it’s not going to work out this year.  Maybe next year we can have more discussions with the public in an open meeting. . .I think Friend would understand, they are in the same boat.  I think it would have been too fast even without covid 19.”

Exeter Village Board Meets Via Conference Call

Exeter Village Board met by conference call on Tuesday night April 7^th with all board members present.

Minutes and invoices were  approved as presented before Chairman Alan Michl invited village Clerk Becky Erdkamp to explain the local emergency declaration the village instituted.

“Upon the governor’s request and the Fillmore County emergency manager we filed this (emergency declaration) so that if we need items or can get assistance for protection equipment it will be in place.”

The board moved on to approve the lot split application from the Rathjens.   The county zoning board recommended approval of the split and the board voted to approve.

The board opened a hearing on Class D Liquor License for Greg’s Market.  Michl asked if there were any concerns and board members Mitch Schlegelmilch and Justin Harre abstained from the vote as they serve on Greg’s board. The board voted to recommend approval for the liquor license.

Clerk Erdkamp was contacted by financial advisor Brad Slaughter who encouraged the board to refinance the pool bond.  With interest rates lowering the board could save up to $36,000.  Clerk Erdkamp noted that this would be the last time the pool bond could be refinanced as there are only eight years left  on the bond.

The board was very positive about this opportunity, and approved inviting Slaughter to present the procedure to them at the May meeting and vote following.

There was no marshals report or maintenance report.  The board discussed getting the tree and grass pile ready for spring and changing out the downtown banners.

The board discussed the Exeter clean up days.  Schlegelmilch asked if they would continue with the event, “My only thought with changing it would be getting a shorter one. I am not opposed to sitting in the loader and dumping what people put it in the bucket.”

“We can make a decision a week before,” commented Michl, ”I think people would understand if we cancel.”

Clerk Erdkamp reported that sales tax for January was $7442.75 and keno for February was $342.63.  She didn’t have a quote from Kidwell on replacing the video surveillance system but she noted they would only save $2500 if they didn’t do the pool area.  “We can worry about that as things settle down,” she explained.

Erdkamp also explained that she has a conference call with the governor each week.  During these meetings the governor has said, “not to plan to open swimming pools and ball fields until the middle of July. The Governor will re-evaluate and give guidance to communities regarding pools sometime in May.”

She also offered to ask any questions the board has to the governor during their conference call as the governor has been very accommodating in answering all of the clerks questions.

Harre asked Erdkamp to email board members a summary of each weeks governors call to keep the board updated.

The board set the next meeting for Tuesday, May 5 at 7 p.m.

Primary Election Information

You should have received an application to vote early in the primary election by mail.  There are no local issues items on the primary ballot.

The deadline for the Village of Exeter board members is not until July 15 for incumbents and Aug 3 for non-incumbents.

Exeter-Milligan school board members up for reelection are Tim Pribyl, Eric Milton and Kendra Oldehoeft.  The deadline has passed for filing and Eric Milton is the only incumbent who has filed.  Non incumbents who have filed include Paul Jorgensen, Kyle Svec and Allen Vavra.  There are not enough filers to warrant a primary for Exeter-Milligan school board.

 

Happy Easter!!

Exeter's Cruise Night!!!

Exeter-Milligan senior Kayla Geiger and Nebraska Lutheran Senior Sam Otte dressed up in their finest for Cruise Night and despite the many important events that the Covid-19 virus has cancelled they didn’t let it interfere with one more event.  

Friends and neighbors from Exeter and surrounding communities got to wave and honk at each other from their vehicles Saturday night as the town held a cruise night.  Cars starting filling up main street around 6:30 p.m. and by 7:30 nearly 100 cars had come and gone.  Cruisers continued their steady stream downtown until after 10 p.m.  Several residents chose to watch the cruisers from their front porches. The event, organized by residents Tara Due and Kim Gloystein, was a success in their book, “We are so happy with the turn out.  I know it lifted our spirits seeing everyone’s happy faces,” quipped Gloystein.

Kenny and Lisa Soukup watched the cruisers from their front porch on Friday night.